诸暨文华医院-药源性肾上腺皮质功能减退症-专家在线问诊-京东健康互联网医院

简介:

诸暨文华医院原发性肾上腺皮质功能减退症又称艾迪生病,是由肾上腺皮质功能低下引起的一种全身性疾病,表现为血压低,全身乏力,皮肤及黏膜色素沉着等，肾上腺皮质功能不全或减退，全身，手术治疗,药物治疗，不确定，控制钠盐的摄入,限制饮酒,维持钾的摄入,忌高糖饮食,，X线或超声波定位作小针穿刺吸取生物活检，。

true 周钲东主治医师

其他诸暨文华医院

好评率：- 接诊量：- 平均响应：-

发热、上呼吸道感染、腹泻、腹胀、高血压、糖尿病

患友问诊

70岁老人右肾功能减弱，中度贫血，可否服用生血宝？

点击查看

70岁老人，右肾功能减弱，中度贫血，询问是否可服用生血宝。

接诊医生：

2024-10-31 17:22:44

京东健康药师在线解答肾上腺皮质功能减退症用药问题

点击查看

患有肾上腺皮质功能减退症，想了解醋酸可的松片的用药安全。

接诊医生：

2024-10-31 17:22:44

肾上腺皮质功能减退症治疗药物咨询

点击查看

我患有肾上腺皮质功能减退症，想咨询一下治疗药物。

接诊医生：

2024-10-31 17:22:44

肾上腺皮质功能减退治疗咨询及红斑狼疮相关信息

点击查看

肾上腺皮质功能减退，有红斑狼疮病史，用药咨询。

接诊医生：

2024-10-31 17:22:44

肾功能下降引起的水钠潴留：症状、诊断与治疗

点击查看

我最近总是感到头痛、腹痛、便秘、腹泻、胃烧灼感、恶心、消化不良等症状，并且正在服用某种药物，可能会影响肾功能。请问这可能是什么问题？

接诊医生：

2024-10-31 17:22:44

中试药治疗失眠，肾功能下降的用药建议

点击查看

我有严重失眠，肠胃不好，肝肾功能可能有点影响，去医院检查，报告单上显示，肾功能下降，叫我做进一步检查，我没去。请问有没有什么更好的中试药可以治疗失眠，在不伤害肾的情况下，以上这几种症状都有。

接诊医生：

2024-10-31 17:22:44

肾上腺皮质功能减退症治疗咨询

点击查看

肾上腺皮质功能减退症，长期用药治疗，饮食需注意，想了解更多。

接诊医生：

2024-10-31 17:22:44

肾上腺皮质功能减退治疗咨询

点击查看

乏力、食欲不振，疑为肾上腺皮质功能减退，咨询治疗方法。

接诊医生：

2024-10-31 17:22:44

肾上腺皮质功能减退症用药咨询

点击查看

患有肾上腺皮质功能减退症，经垂体手术治疗后，需长期服用加减片替代治疗。

接诊医生：

2024-10-31 17:22:44

肾上腺切除术后用药咨询

点击查看

65岁男性，两年前肾上腺切除手术后服用醋酸泼尼松，想咨询是否可以换成醋酸氢化可的松片？

接诊医生：

2024-10-31 17:22:44

科普文章

肾上腺皮质功能减退症的诊断标准是什么？

肾上腺皮质功能减退症的诊断标准主要包括以下几个方面：

一、临床表现

1. 全身症状

• 乏力、倦怠是常见的早期症状，患者常感到虚弱、容易疲劳，即使在休息后也难以缓解。

• 食欲减退、体重减轻也较为常见，患者可能出现恶心、呕吐、腹痛、腹泻等消化系统症状。

2. 皮肤黏膜改变

• 皮肤色素沉着是本病的特征性表现之一，尤其是暴露部位、摩擦部位、乳晕、掌纹等部位色素加深明显。

• 口腔黏膜、牙龈、乳头等部位也可出现色素沉着。

3. 心血管系统症状

• 患者可出现低血压，尤其是体位性低血压，即从卧位或蹲位突然站立时血压明显下降，出现头晕、眼前发黑等症状。

• 心音低钝、心率缓慢，严重时可出现心力衰竭。

4. 低血糖症状

• 患者可出现头晕、心慌、出汗、颤抖等低血糖症状，空腹血糖常低于正常水平。

5. 精神神经系统症状

• 患者可出现精神萎靡、淡漠、记忆力减退、反应迟钝等症状。严重时可出现抑郁、焦虑、失眠等精神障碍。

• 部分患者可出现肌肉无力、抽搐、感觉异常等神经系统症状。

二、实验室检查

1. 血液生化检查

• 低血钠、高血钾是常见的电解质紊乱表现。由于肾上腺皮质激素分泌减少，肾脏排钾减少、保钠能力下降，导致血钠降低、血钾升高。

• 低血糖也是常见的表现之一，空腹血糖常低于正常水平。

2. 激素水平测定

• 血皮质醇水平降低是诊断本病的重要依据。正常人血皮质醇水平在早晨 8 时左右最高，下午 4 时左右次之，夜间 12 时左右最低。肾上腺皮质功能减退症患者血皮质醇水平明显低于正常范围。

• 促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）水平升高。由于肾上腺皮质功能减退，反馈抑制作用减弱，导致 ACTH 分泌增加。

3. 促肾上腺皮质激素兴奋试验

• 该试验是诊断肾上腺皮质功能减退症的重要方法之一。通过给予外源性 ACTH，观察血皮质醇水平的变化。

• 正常人在 ACTH 刺激后，血皮质醇水平会明显升高。而肾上腺皮质功能减退症患者血皮质醇水平升高不明显或无反应。

三、影像学检查

1. 肾上腺超声检查

• 可了解肾上腺的大小、形态、结构等情况。肾上腺皮质功能减退症患者肾上腺可能缩小，但超声检查对本病的诊断价值有限。

2. 肾上腺 CT 或 MRI 检查

• 可以更清晰地显示肾上腺的形态、结构和病变情况。有助于排除肾上腺肿瘤、结核等其他疾病引起的肾上腺皮质功能减退。

综上所述，根据患者的临床表现、实验室检查和影像学检查结果，综合判断是否患有肾上腺皮质功能减退症。需要注意的是，诊断过程中应排除其他疾病引起的类似症状，如慢性肝病、营养不良、甲状腺功能减退等。

肾上腺皮质功能减退症的常见病因有哪些？

肾上腺皮质功能减退症的常见病因如下：

一、自身免疫性因素

1. 自身免疫性肾上腺炎

• 这是原发性肾上腺皮质功能减退症最常见的病因之一。自身免疫反应攻击肾上腺皮质，导致肾上腺皮质细胞受损，激素分泌减少。

• 可能与遗传、环境及自身免疫调节异常等多种因素有关。患者常伴有其他自身免疫性疾病，如桥本甲状腺炎、1 型糖尿病等。

二、感染因素

1. 结核感染

• 以往是肾上腺皮质功能减退症的重要病因之一。结核菌感染肾上腺，破坏肾上腺组织，引起肾上腺皮质功能减退。

• 多为全身结核的一部分，患者常有低热、盗汗、乏力、消瘦等结核中毒症状。

2. 真菌及病毒感染

• 某些真菌感染，如组织胞浆菌病、球孢子菌病等，以及病毒感染，如巨细胞病毒、艾滋病病毒等，也可侵犯肾上腺，导致肾上腺皮质功能减退。

• 这类感染相对较少见，但在特定人群或免疫功能低下者中可能发生。

三、遗传因素

1. 先天性肾上腺皮质增生症

• 是一组由于基因突变导致肾上腺皮质激素合成酶缺陷的遗传性疾病。常见的有 21-羟化酶缺乏、11β-羟化酶缺乏等。

• 患者出生时即有不同程度的肾上腺皮质功能减退表现，同时伴有性发育异常等症状。

2. 家族性糖皮质激素缺乏症

• 一种罕见的常染色体隐性遗传病，由于基因突变导致肾上腺皮质对促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）不敏感，激素分泌减少。

• 患者通常在儿童期或青春期发病，表现为低血糖、反复感染等症状。

四、血管因素

1. 肾上腺出血或梗死

• 如抗磷脂综合征、弥散性血管内凝血等疾病可导致肾上腺血管内血栓形成，引起肾上腺出血或梗死，进而导致肾上腺皮质功能减退。

• 外伤、手术等也可能损伤肾上腺血管，造成肾上腺功能受损。

五、药物因素

1. 长期使用糖皮质激素突然停药

• 长期大剂量使用糖皮质激素抑制了下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴，突然停药可导致肾上腺皮质功能减退。

• 患者可出现乏力、恶心、呕吐、低血压等症状，严重时可发生肾上腺危象。

2. 某些药物的副作用

• 如利福平、酮康唑等药物可抑制肾上腺皮质激素的合成，长期使用可能导致肾上腺皮质功能减退。

• 使用这些药物时应注意监测肾上腺功能，避免出现严重并发症。

肾气丸方义

方义

本方为肾阳不足之证而设。

腰为肾之府，肾阳虚衰，经脉失于温养，则腰脊膝胫酸痛乏力，身半以下常有冷感；肾主水，肾阳虚弱，不能化气行水，水湿内停，则小便不利，少腹拘急，甚则发为水肿，痰饮，脚气等；若阳虚膀胱失约，则小便反多，夜尿尤频；肾阳不足，水液失于蒸化，津不上承，则口渴不已；舌质淡而胖，尺脉沉细或沉弱而迟，皆为肾阳虚弱之象。

诸症皆由肾阳不足，温煦无能，气化失司，水液代谢失常而致，治宜补肾助阳，“益火之源，以消阴翳”，辅以化气利水。

方中附子大辛大热，温阳补火；桂枝辛甘而温，温通阳气，二药相合，补肾阳，助气化，共为君药。

肾为水火之脏，内舍真阴真阳，阳气无阴则不化，“善补阳者，必于阴中求阳，则阳得阴助，而生化无穷”，故重用干地黄滋阴补肾生精，配伍山茱萸、山药补肝养脾益精，阴生则阳长，同为臣药。

方中补阳药少而滋阴药多，可见其立方之旨，并非峻补元阳，乃在于微微生火，鼓舞肾气，即取“少火生气”之义。

泽泻、茯苓利水渗湿，配桂枝又善温化痰饮；丹皮活血散瘀，伍桂枝则可调血分之滞，此三味寓泻于补，俾邪去而补药得力，并制诸滋阴药碍湿之虞，俱为佐药。

诸药合用，助阳之弱以化水，滋阴之虚以生气，使肾阳振奋，气化复常，则诸症自除。

肾上腺皮质功能减退性心脏病怎么办？

肾上腺皮质功能减退症，在临床上比较多见，是因为自身免疫，结核，肿瘤等相关严重疾病，导致双侧肾上腺受到破坏，致使双侧肾上腺导致肾上腺皮质激素的分泌出现了异常而引起的一组临床症候群。主要的临床表现有乏力，虚弱，色素沉积，体重下降，血压降低等症状！有一部患者会出现心血管系统病变，也就是临床上所说的肾上腺皮质功能减退性心脏病！

这种疾病归属于内分泌科也归属于心内科，发病的部位是在心脏，一旦发现这种疾病我们应该怎么做？是老百姓所关心的问题，那么今天我们就来讲一下，肾上腺皮质功能减退性心脏病应该如何治疗？

首先，将这种疾病的大致发病原因以及疾病的性质，和目前国际上对于疾病治疗的方式，对患者进行一个宣教，让患者了解这种疾病是终身性疾病，需要终身用药物来维持，一般都是以激素替代治疗，作为终身治疗！平时还要采取适当的基础量以及生理需要的量，如果有其他的并发症情况发生，根据情况，可适当的进行加量。

其次，就是掌握好用激素的量，因为糖皮质激素的应用总量，它要根据患者的身高体重，年龄性别以及劳动强度等等有关。并且需要补液补盐，每天应该补充十克以上的氯化钠，如果有大量出汗以及相关的腹泻，可以酌情增加氯化钠的量。对于出现高钾血症的患者，应该降血钾治疗。

最后，肾上腺皮质功能减退性心脏病的治疗大致有以上这几个方面，但是，对于心脏本身的病变，应该对症治疗，改善心脏供血功能，应给予营养心肌，改善微循环治疗。这样一来，疾病才有康复的可能！

腺垂体功能减退要怎样治疗？

腺垂体功能减退症是内分泌系统疾病比较常见的一类，腺垂体功能减退症对人体的危害是非常严重的，一旦发现腺垂体功能减退症应该积极的进行治疗，具体的治疗方法大致有以下几个方面：

第一，对于轻微的腺垂体功能减退症的一般治疗，主要是选择激素替代治疗，首选是糖皮质激素替代治疗，比如临床上比较常用的氢化可的松、可的松或泼尼松，具体的用药剂量需要在医生的指导下应用，遵医嘱选择适合自己的剂量进行治疗，另外，腺垂体功能减退症导致甲状腺功能的异常出现甲减，需要选择甲状腺激素替代治疗，首选的药物是左甲状腺素钠片，一般是以小剂量开始逐渐的加量，但是与糖皮质激素同用时需要略推后数日，目的是为了防止发生肾上腺危象，还有性激素的替代治疗，女性患者需要建立人工月经周期，男性患者需要雄激素替代治疗等。

第二，对于较为严重的腺垂体功能减退，甚至会引发垂体危象，这时治疗的方案以抢救治疗为主，首先考虑静脉滴注高糖，氢化可的松静脉点滴，一般开始的剂量是 300㎎/天或及更大剂量；同时给予患者抗感染，补液，纠正休克治疗，注意患者保温，给予小剂量的甲状腺激素替代治疗，针对诱发垂体危象具体的诱因进行对症治疗，达到一个较好的疗效！

总结，腺垂体功能减退症，很多人并不了解，可能因为不了解而耽误病情，最终引起严重的病变，一旦发现应该积极去医院内分泌科就诊，选择合适自己的方案维持治疗，终将会得到一个良好的疗效！

罹患双癌，依然有办法治疗！“海外二诊”为客户快速链接全球权威专家资源！

病症：胃癌恶性黑色素瘤

患者：李女士

年龄：70岁

罹患癌症，毫无疑问对每个人都是重大打击。而如果一位患者不幸同时罹患两种癌症，我们可以想象得出他的心情会是怎样的沉重。

但时至今日，癌症早已不再是什么“不治之症”，很多良好的治疗方法，可帮助患者迈过重重困境，预后得到极大提升。

不仅如此，在医疗全球化的今天，中国患者也能通过“海外二诊”服务，快速触达到国际权威专家资源，为自己的治疗保驾护航！

今天的案例主人公李女士，正是一位“海外二诊”的受益者。我们来一起看看她的故事。*为保护隐私，文中患者个人信息均已经脱敏处理。

70岁的李女士在去年年底，因脚底疼痛去医院看病，结果发现脚后跟有一个1厘米的黑色肿物。医生判断是冻疮，于是开了点外用药，李女士也就没有再放在心上。

大概4个月后，真正的噩梦降临：李女士通过影像检查，被诊断为胃癌，而且有了淋巴结转移。她还出现了多次呕血，病情非常危急。很快,医生为她实施了全胃切除。令人意想不到的是，几天后通过检查，医生发现李女士后脚跟的肿物竟然也是癌症——恶性黑色素瘤。于是大概2个月后，医生又切除了她的足底肿瘤。

为了降低复发风险，李女士开始了3个周期的化疗联合免疫治疗（替吉奥联合纳武单抗）。

虽然该做的都已做完，但对于李女士来说，恐惧感还远未被消除。因为癌症最令人恐惧的，是其具有“复发转移”的能力。一旦癌症再次袭来，李女士不知道自己该如何应对。另外，两种癌症的治疗以及术后辅助药物治疗，也让李女士遭遇了一些副作用。比如腹泻、味觉障碍还有体重明显下降的问题。这些对于已经70岁的李女士来说，都很影响生活质量，所以迫切需要解决。

在本次的国际专家“海外二诊”服务中，李女士预约的是来自日本某知名综合性医院肿瘤中心的外科部长医生，他的专长领域既包括肿瘤外科，又包括各类癌症药物疗法、姑息治疗，是一位“内外兼修”的权威专家。在充分了解了李女士既往的病情和治疗经过后，医生很快通过远程会诊的方式，为患者详细解答了当前她的所有问题。

1、未来如果转移或复发了该怎么办？

医生：假如您未来不幸出现转移或复发，那么化疗是核心治疗手段。对于单发的孤立转移灶，可以选择手术、放疗来进行局部治疗。

具体化疗方案选择，我按使用的先后顺序列出了3类，当前面的方案失效后，可更换为后面的方案。

一类方案：化疗联合/不联合免疫方案

CAPOX (卡培他滨+奥沙利铂)±O药（即免疫药物纳武单抗）

SOX (替吉奥+奥沙利铂)±O药

FOLFOX (5-FU+奥沙利铂)±O药

二类方案：化疗联合/不联合抗血管药物方案

Taxane (紫杉醇/白蛋白结合型紫杉醇/多西紫杉醇)±雷莫芦单抗

三类方案：化疗方案

曲氟尿苷/盐酸替吡嘧啶

伊立替康

2、N K细胞疗法是否对我有帮助？副作用是否可控？ X医生：目前尚没有证据表明NK细胞疗法对癌症有效，因此不予推荐。

3、口服替吉奥会腹泻，是否需要调整方案？ II/III期胃癌患者术后采用辅助治疗方案，分别为：

替吉奥口服 1 年（口服 4 周，停药 2 周，共 8 个疗程或口服 2 周，停药 1 周，共 16个疗程）

CAPOX (卡培他滨+奥沙利铂) 共半年（每 3 周一次，共 8 个疗程）

SOX (替吉奥+奥沙利铂) 共半年（每 3 周一次，共 8 个疗程）

这三种方案中，替吉奥方案和CAPOX方案等效，但SOX要优于替吉奥。另外，胃癌术后直接使用纳武单抗免疫治疗无意义。

替吉奥确实会出现腹泻等代表性不良反应，患者可以考虑对症治疗，比如调节肠道的药物、止泻药等缓解副作用。如果副作用太严重，那么可以考虑减少药物剂量。

替吉奥的标准用药剂量为120mg，但用量低于80mg无法达到预期效果。如果当前患者用药为100mg，那么为了降低副作用，可以减少剂量到80mg；但如果目前剂量已经是80mg，则无法进一步降低剂量，此时考虑更换方案为CAPOX方案替代。如果不良反应严重到干扰日常生活，则患者可以选择停药，持续观察病情变化。

对于无淋巴结转移的II期B和II其C的患者，可选择使用1年帕博丽珠单抗免疫治疗。

4 、术后患者很瘦，味觉障碍，如何调理改善？通常，手术后患者体重会减轻20%左右。这是患者消化吸收能力低下、促食欲的胃肠激素减少引起的。大约6个月到1年时间，患者可以恢复正常。

味觉障碍可能是抗癌药的副作用引起的，也可能是饮食减少导致缺乏锌等微量元素引起的。建议患者采用少食多餐的方式饮食，每天分5-6次吃饭。在日本，我们有时也会给患者用一些营养补充剂。

另外，也可以考虑采用中草药的对症治疗，改善症状，比如十全大补汤、六君子汤。会诊结束后，李女士的心情得到了极大的平复。她对自己未来要走的路更清晰了，也对日本专家的细致指导和会诊的快速响应非常满意。

高龄+多基础病，该手术还是姑息治疗？日本专家为7旬胃癌患者一锤定音！

中国是消化道癌症发病数量较多的国家，根据国家癌症中心发布的《2022年中国恶性肿瘤疾病负担情况》数据，2022年我国胃癌新发病例约为35.87万例，死亡人数26.04万人。

总体来说，胃癌属于严重威胁我国国民生命健康的蕞常见癌症之一。胃癌如能在早、中期发现，还是有很大机会通过手术实现根治的，患者仍有一定机会得到临床治愈（术后5年不复发即为临床治愈）。

但在胃癌患者中，一部分人会因为【年龄较高】、伴有诸多【基础病】等问题，对手术存有疑虑，担心“下不来手术台”，甚至会放弃手术机会，选择吃药等姑息治疗。这样的选择真的正确吗？现如今的技术能否支持这类老年患者安全手术呢？接下来，我们一起看一个真实案例。

01七旬老人遭遇中期胃癌

一位七十多岁的“老胃病”项女士，因短时间体重骤降（8斤）前往就医。血液检测显示，她有一项指标异常升高。进一步检查发现，她的食道和胃连接的地方（贲门）以及胃的“外墙”（胃壁）都变得异常的厚，而且形状不均匀——这正是胃癌常见的表现。

医生随后通过胃镜检查和病例活检（取一小块组织观察上面的细胞），确诊了老人患有胃癌。由于还没有出现胃以外的远处其他器官的转移，也没有附近淋巴结转移，因此项女士的胃癌分期为中期。虽不是早期，但中期胃癌通常是可以手术的。为项女士提供诊疗的医生也表示，可以通过全胃切除手术实现根治。

但一来项女士已经七十多岁，二来她有20多年的糖尿病（手术伤口会更慢愈合、感染风险高、术后并发症风险高）、右肺还有一枚1.2厘米的肺结节。种种问题让老人和家人们都比较犹豫，担心扛不住治疗，最终“越治越糟”。在这样的背景下，项女士决定找一位足够权威的外科专家，来为自己进行全面评估，看看能不能兼顾好肿瘤根治以及手术的安全性。

不久后，项女士预约了来自日本癌研有明医院消化中心胃外科部长布部创也医生为自己提供指导。

02日本专家咨询内容分享

在充分了解了项女士的病情信息和全部资料后，布部创也医生给出了如下指导建议：首先，患者此前接受的是普通CT而非增强CT，胃镜也没有清晰展示食道上肿瘤具体侵犯的程度，因此很难得出精准的分期判断。

后面患者来癌研有明医院就医时，医疗团队会在治疗前为她做一套非常精细、全面的检查，此后就可以明确肿瘤情况了。届时如果发现患者的分期、肿瘤侵犯的范围确实和现在的结果相同，那么可以通过一个腹腔镜微创手术实现根治，损伤会非常小；如果届时发现肿瘤侵犯食道过多，则需要消化道联合食道外科共同进行胸腔镜手术治疗。

但无论是哪一种情况，患者都可以耐受手术，并且保留一部分胃。癌研有明医院是一家极为擅长肿瘤微创手术的知名癌症专科医院。在胃癌方面，2005年，医院开始导入腹腔镜，2019年又引入了达芬奇手术机器人，患者术后并发症更少了。如今，癌研有明医院98%的外科手术都采用微创。

受益于此，很多在别的医院需要胃全切的胃癌患者，到癌研有明后可以保留一部分胃，还能兼顾临床治愈。这对于术后患者的长期营养摄入和体重维持都很有帮助。布部创也医生所在科室的主要目标之一，正是在做到根治性切除的前提之下，将原本的胃全切术式变为次全胃切除术，尽可能为患者保留一些胃，让他们未来的生活质量得到提升。

那么项女士的糖尿病问题，会不会影响到手术呢？对此，布部创也医生认为完全不必担心，因为对于这类患者，癌研有明医院会进行详细的术前评估，并且有专业团队介入，从生活方式调整和专业治疗入手，帮助患者控制好血糖，让血糖水平达到符合手术的标准，从而降低术后愈合不良风险。

关于肺部的1.2厘米结节，布部医生认为可以暂不处理，无论它到底是良性还是恶性。因为这枚结节属于纯磨玻璃结节，即便是恶性，进展也非常缓慢，并不会快速出现转移扩散。而胃癌根治手术虽然会采用微创方式，但依然会给患者带来一定的负担，如果同时处理肺结节，会导致负担过重、患者难以承受。所以当前蕞好的处理办法，是先集中精力解决胃癌肿瘤，术后安排呼吸科专家为患者进行肺结节诊断，给出随访或手术或根治性放疗的建议。

03项女士术后，是否需要化疗来降低复发风险、争取更大治愈希望？

对此，布部创也医生表示，是否化疗现在还不能判断。因为术后患者能获得蕞精准的分期判断，有可能患者术前被认为是2期，但实际上术后成了1期（无需化疗）；有时也可能患者术前是1期，但术后成了2-3期。假如是2-3期，则患者术后需要坚持1年的辅助化疗，大概可以降低10%的复发风险。

有效减少不良反应，AD新药改良给药方案来了

当地时间10月29日礼来宣布了Ⅲb期临床试验（TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 6）的积极结果，对于早期症状性阿尔茨海默病成人患者，用改良滴定方案接受donanemab治疗的患者在24周主要终点时，伴水肿/积液的淀粉样蛋白相关影像学异常（ARIA-E）有所减少。

donanemab这个新药在今年7月获批于美国，又在之后获日本厚生劳动省、英国药品和医疗产品监管局批准，用于轻度阿尔茨海默病、轻度认知功能障碍的治疗。donanemab在国内2023年取得突破性治疗药物认定，并纳入优先审评审批程序，目前还在审评审批过程中。

CDE官网截图

但在FDA说明书中有黑框警告，大意是应用该药时应注意淀粉样蛋白相关影像学异常（ARIA），表现为ARIA-E和ARIA伴含铁血黄素沉积（ARIA-H），通常发生在治疗早期，且无症状，很少发生严重和危及生命的事件。本次试验的积极结果和这个黑框警告相关。一起来看详情。

FDA说明书截图

给药方式有哪些改变？会不会影响效果？

TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 6是一项多中心随机双盲Ⅲb期研究，主要研究donanemab的不同给药方案对早期症状性AD患者ARIA-E和淀粉样蛋白清除率的影响，这里的早期AD指的是轻度认知障碍（MCI）和轻度痴呆疾病阶段。

给药方式和既往不同，既往标准给药方案是在前三次输注时接受2瓶（700mg）donanemab，然后再接受4瓶（1400mg）；改良滴定方式是患者第一次输注1瓶（350mg），第二次输注2瓶（700mg），第三次输注3瓶（1050mg），此后每次输注4瓶（1400mg）。

研究的主要终点是第24周时患者出现ARIA-E占总参与者的比例，结果显示接受改良滴定方式的患者ARIA-E发生率为14%，而标准给药方案为24%，相对风险降低41%。载脂蛋白E（APOE）是已知的阿尔茨海默病遗传风险因素的携带者，在这些患者中，19%患者在改良滴定时患有ARIA-E，而标准给药方案中为57%，相对风险降低67%。

看到这里你或许也有疑问，虽然ARIA-E的发生风险降低了，但改良滴定方案会不会影响疗效？答案是不会。

与接受标准给药方案的患者相比，改良滴定患者淀粉样斑块和p-tau217减少。改良滴定的患者的淀粉样斑块水平较基线平均降低 67%，而标准给药组患者为69%。

参考来源

1.Modified Titration of Donanemab Demonstrated Reduction of ARIA-E in Early Symptomatic Alzheimer's Disease Patients in Phase Ⅲb study.

2.CED官网.

3.A Study of Different Donanemab (LY3002813) Dosing Regimens in Adults With Early Alzheimer's Disease (TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 6).

重磅！白血病一线新药获FDA加速批准

当地时间10月29日，阿西米尼（asciminib）获美国食品药品管理局（FDA）加速批准^[1] ，用于慢性期新诊断的费城染色体阳性慢性粒细胞白血病（Ph+CML）成年患者。CML是一种骨髓和血细胞癌症，通常由费城染色体的异常染色体引起。在一线治疗中，约1/3的患者会出现下列问题：由于不良反应或者治疗无效而停止酪氨酸激酶抑制剂（TKI）治疗。

为了解决这一问题，需要开发新的药物，asciminib就是解决这一困境的新药。早在2022年8月，加拿大药物和卫生技术局（CADTH）建议^[2] ：“若满足条件，可通过公共药物计划报销asciminib用于治疗费城染色体阳性慢性粒细胞白血病。”

asciminib为何得到FDA的青睐？

本次获批基于一项III期多中心随机研究，研究目的是比较每日80mg的asciminib与TKI治疗的疗效。TKI治疗是接受伊马替尼、尼洛替尼、达沙替尼或博舒替尼任意一种治疗。

共有405名患者被随机分配（1:1）进两组治疗。主要疗效结局指标是48周时的主要分子反应（MMR）率。这个指标是慢性髓性白血病的关键指标，这个比例越高，说明该治疗在基因水平上对疾病的控制效果越好，能够更有效地抑制疾病相关基因的表达，进而有望更好地控制疾病的进展、改善患者的症状和预后。

研究结果显示，48周时MMR率方面，asciminib组中为68%（95% CI: 61, 74)，TKI组为49%（95% CI: 42, 56），二者相差19%。细看具体的TKI，入组伊马替尼和其他TKI药物入组比例为1:1；asciminib组的MMR率为69%（95% CI: 59, 78），而伊马替尼组为40%（95% CI: 31, 50），相差近30%（95% CI: 17, 42）。

这个新药安全吗？每周需要打几次药？

根据FDA数据显示，在新诊断和既往接受过治疗的患者，应用新药最常见的不良反应（≥20%）是肌肉骨骼疼痛、皮疹、疲劳、上呼吸道感染、头痛、腹痛和腹泻。若只看新诊断的患者，最常见的实验室异常（≥40%）是淋巴细胞计数降低、白细胞计数降低、血小板计数降低、中性粒细胞计数降低等。

根据FDA已批准的asciminib说明书，用药期间还需要注意一下事项：

1.骨髓抑制：用药期间可能因出现骨髓抑制，发生血小板减少症、中性粒细胞减少症和贫血。用药应在治疗的前3个月，需要每两周进行一次全血细胞计数，此后每月进行一次检测，从而判断患者有无骨髓抑制症状。根据严重程度，咨询医生是否需要停药。

2.胰腺毒性：患者可能出现血清脂肪酶和淀粉酶无症状升高，每月需评估血清脂肪酶和淀粉酶水平，如果您有胰腺炎，则注意主动告知医生，需要进行频率更高的检测。

3.高血压风险：可能出现3级或4级高血压风险，应注意检测血压。

4.超敏反应：可能出现3级或4级超敏反应，包括皮疹、水肿和支气管痉挛。如果出现这些症状，需及时反馈医生，医生会根据超敏反应的体征和症状，开始适当的治疗。

5.心血管毒性：如果您有心血管病史，需要告知医生；对于3级或更高级别的心血管毒性，医生会考虑暂停用药、减少剂量或永久停药。

6.胚胎/胎儿毒性：若您在怀孕期间用药或在服用药物期间怀孕，可能对孩子有潜在风险。这个新药是口服药，需要根据不同的给药剂量（80mg或40mg）每天/或每两天用药。

近些年来，还有哪些白血病药物获批FDA？

根据FDA肿瘤学/血液系统恶性肿瘤批准通知，白血病相关新药整理如下表。

另外可以看出21年时asciminib已获批白血病治疗，但限定既往接受过两种或更多TKIs治疗，本次获批属于扩大适应证。

参考来源：

1.FDA grants accelerated approval to asciminib for newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia. 2.Asciminib(Scemblix):CADTHReimbursementRecommendation:Indication:ForthetreatmentofadultpatientswithPhiladelphiachromosome-positivechronicmyeloidleukemia(Ph+CML)inchronicphase(CP)previouslytreatedwith2ormoretyrosinekinaseinhibitors.Ottawa(ON):CanadianAgencyforDrugsandTechnologiesinHealth;2022Aug.PMID:38713779. 3.AStudyofOralAsciminibVersusOtherTKIsinAdultPatientsWithNewlyDiagnosedPh+CML-CP. 4.Product information：SCEMBLIX-asciminibtablet,filmcoated.UpdatedAugust7,2024. 5.Oncology(Cancer)/HematologicMalignanciesApprovalNotifications.

病例31-2023：一名79岁男性，身体不自主运动，一过性反应迟钝

以下内容来源于新英格兰医学杂志。

Presentation of Case

Dr. Carrie Chui (Neurology): A 79-year-old man was admitted to this hospital because of involuntary movements on the left side and transient unresponsiveness.

The patient had been in his usual state of health until 9 months before admission, when involuntary movements of the left shoulder and left side of the face developed. The movements were described by the patient as twitching, were not associated with a change in the level of consciousness, and resolved after 1 to 2 minutes. During the next 6 months, the patient had similar episodes approximately once per month, but the episodes increased in duration, lasting 5 to 6 minutes.

Three months before admission, the episodes of involuntary movements increased in frequency, and the patient was evaluated by his primary care physician. The physical examination was normal. Results of kidney-function tests were normal, as were blood levels of glucose and electrolytes, except for the sodium level, which was 129 mmol per liter (reference range, 135 to 145). There was a history of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, and the sodium level was similar to levels obtained during the past 4 years. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head (Figure 1A), performed before and after the administration of intravenous contrast material, revealed a focus of enhancement in the right middle frontal gyrus that was thought to be a small vascular anomaly. Electroencephalography (EEG), performed with the patient in awake and drowsy states, revealed rare, brief, focal slowing in the left temporal lobe during drowsiness; no epileptiform abnormalities were present.

Figure 1

MRI of the Head and CT Angiogram of the Head and Neck.

Two months before admission, the patient was evaluated in the epilepsy clinic affiliated with this hospital. He reported that the episodes of involuntary movements had increased in both frequency and duration, occurring once or twice per day and lasting approximately 10 minutes. Episodes began with tingling and numbness in the left leg that prompted the patient to voluntarily stomp the left foot to relieve the uncomfortable sensation. Then, the patient had involuntary movements that he described as an uncontrollable invisible force moving the left leg and arm, with hyperextension of the arm backward and pronation of the wrist. There was associated numbness in the distal portions of the left third, fourth, and fifth fingers and involuntary movement of the left cheek. No prodromal symptoms occurred. The patient had awareness during the episodes, and after the episodes, he felt fatigued but had a normal level of consciousness, without confusion. The examination in the epilepsy clinic was normal. A diagnosis of seizure disorder was considered, and treatment with levetiracetam was started.

Three weeks before admission, the patient was again evaluated in the epilepsy clinic. He reported that the episodes of involuntary movements still occurred on a daily basis but had decreased in duration and involved only the left leg, without abnormal movements of the arm or face. Dizziness, headache, and weakness had developed and were attributed to the use of levetiracetam. The patient’s family had recorded a video of one of the episodes of involuntary movements. After reviewing the video, the patient’s neurologist thought that the episodes were less likely to be caused by seizures and more consistent with choreoathetoid movements. Cross-tapering of medications — with the simultaneous administration of levetiracetam in decreasing doses and clobazam in increasing doses — was initiated, and the patient was referred to the movement disorders clinic affiliated with this hospital.

On the morning of admission, an episode of involuntary movements of the left leg and left shoulder occurred and persisted for 1 hour. Several hours after the symptoms abated, the patient’s wife found the patient to be unresponsive; he was sitting in a chair. Emergency medical services were called, and when they arrived, the patient was responsive. The fingerstick blood glucose level was 180 mg per deciliter (10.0 mmol per liter) and the blood pressure 110/80 mm Hg. The patient was transported to the emergency department of this hospital for further evaluation.

In the emergency department, the patient reported dysuria and increased urinary frequency. The patient’s daughter noted that he had been more anxious during the past 3 years and occasionally had trouble with memory. Other medical history included Barrett’s esophagus, benign prostatic hypertrophy, chronic hepatitis B virus infection, eczema, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hypertension, nonischemic cardiomyopathy, and osteoporosis. There was no history of head trauma or extended loss of consciousness. Medications included aspirin, atorvastatin, doxazosin, finasteride, omeprazole, metoprolol, sacubitril, and valsartan. There were no known drug allergies. The patient was a lifelong nonsmoker and drank alcohol rarely; he did not use illicit drugs. His mother had had gastric cancer, and his sister had had esophageal cancer; there was no family history of seizures.

On examination, the temporal temperature was 36.8°C, the blood pressure 152/97 mm Hg, the pulse 65 beats per minute, the respiratory rate 16 breaths per minute, and the oxygen saturation 96% while the patient was breathing ambient air. The body-mass index (the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters) was 21.7. The blood pressure decreased to 130/63 mm Hg with standing. The patient was alert and interactive. The lower jaw was held to the left, but the nasolabial folds and smile were symmetric with activation. There were nonrhythmic, nonstereotyped, writhing movements of the left arm. Tone was normal, and strength was assessed as 5 out of 5 in the arms and legs. Results of liver-function and kidney-function tests were normal, as were blood levels of glucose and electrolytes, except for the sodium level, which was 125 mmol per liter. The lactate level was 2.1 mmol per liter (19 mg per deciliter; reference range, 0.5 to 2.0 mmol per liter [5 to 18 mg per deciliter]). The urinalysis was normal. Intravenous fluids were administered. Imaging studies were obtained.

Dr. Rajiv Gupta: Computed tomographic (CT) angiography of the head and neck (Figure 1B) revealed extensively calcified plaque with severe stenosis of the distal right common carotid artery (CCA), extending into the proximal right internal carotid artery (ICA), as well as stenosis of the right and left paraclinoid ICAs and the left vertebral artery at its origin. There was no vascular abnormality on the CT angiogram that corresponded to the abnormality in the right middle frontal gyrus seen on the previous MRI.

Dr. Chui: The patient was admitted to the hospital. On the second hospital day, the sodium level had increased to 130 mmol per liter, and the lactate level was normal. Additional imaging studies were obtained.

Dr. Gupta: MRI of the head showed no evidence of acute infarction. The focus of enhancement in the right frontal lobe that had been noted previously was not seen on the current MRI.

Dr. Chui: Blood levels of thyrotropin, cobalamin, and glycated hemoglobin and results of coagulation tests were normal. Screening tests for Lyme disease, tuberculosis, and syphilis were negative, as were tests for antibodies to cardiolipin and β₂-glycoprotein. A test for antinuclear antibodies was positive, at a titer of 1:160 in a homogeneous pattern. During a physical therapy session, the patient had abnormal movements of the left leg, left arm, and left side of the face. The abnormal movements diminished when the patient used distraction techniques, such as thigh tapping, finger snapping, and walking while holding a glass of water.

The transient unresponsiveness that led to the patient’s admission was attributed to a combination of sedation from clobazam and hypovolemia. Treatment with clobazam was stopped, and hydration was encouraged. A diagnosis of functional neurologic disorder was considered; outpatient physical therapy with continued use of distraction techniques was recommended. The patient was discharged home on the third hospital day.

Episodes of involuntary movements continued to occur on a daily basis at home. Two weeks after discharge, when the patient was doing exercises while sitting in a chair and having a conversation with his wife, he suddenly stopped talking. She found him slumped in the chair with his eyes closed, no longer exercising. When she asked him questions, he repeatedly said “yes.” Emergency medical services were called, and when they arrived, the patient was alert, diaphoretic, and nonverbal. He had a facial droop on the left side and a right gaze preference. The fingerstick blood glucose level was 130 mg per deciliter (7.2 mmol per liter) and the blood pressure 120/60 mm Hg. The patient was transported to the emergency department of this hospital for further evaluation.

In the emergency department, the temporal temperature was 36.6°C, the blood pressure 143/63 mm Hg, the pulse 66 beats per minute, the respiratory rate 18 breaths per minute, and the oxygen saturation 98% while the patient was breathing ambient air. He was alert and interactive. There was a facial droop on the left side. There was no effort against gravity in the left arm. The patient was able to lift the left leg off the bed for 1 to 2 seconds. He had a right gaze deviation that could not be overcome and mild dysarthria. The remainder of the examination was normal. A diagnosis of stroke was considered, and emergency CT angiography was performed.

Dr. Gupta: CT angiography showed no evidence of acute territorial infarction and no changes in cerebrovascular disease.

Dr. Chui: On repeat physical examination performed after CT angiography, the gaze deviation and dysarthria had resolved, and strength was normal. Mild facial paralysis was present.

A diagnosis was made.

Differential Diagnosis

Dr. Albert Y. Hung: This 79-year-old man initially presented with involuntary movements of the left shoulder and face without associated loss of consciousness. Diagnosis of an unusual movement disorder, especially one that is present episodically, can be challenging. Videos brought in by the patient can be very useful.¹ Most movement disorders result from abnormal functioning of extrapyramidal circuits involving the basal ganglia, rather than a specific neuroanatomical lesion, and the first step toward diagnosis is to identify the type of abnormal movements.²

Four salient aspects of this patient’s involuntary movements can help in characterizing the movement disorder before generating a differential diagnosis. First, the movements were paroxysmal, lasting for short periods of time with resolution between episodes. Second, the movements were nonstereotyped, appearing randomly and variably. Third, the movements were restricted to the left side of his body throughout the course, localizing the disease process to the right cerebral hemisphere. Finally, the symptoms were progressive, increasing in both duration and frequency.

Movement Disorders

This patient had abnormal involuntary movements, symptoms indicative of a hyperkinetic movement disorder. Tremor, the most common hyperkinetic disorder, is unlikely because the patient did not have rhythmic movements. Dystonia is also unlikely, because he did not have sustained muscle contractions that were causing twisting or abnormal postures of the legs, arms, head, neck, or face. Although the patient initially described the movements as twitching, his later descriptions are not suggestive of myoclonus or tics, which manifest as sudden, rapid, recurrent movements.

This patient’s neurologist described the involuntary movements as “choreoathetoid” after reviewing a video of an episode. Chorea, athetosis, and ballism make up a spectrum of involuntary movements that often occur in combination. Chorea refers to involuntary movements that are “dancelike” — irregular, random, unintended, and flowing from one body part to another. When these movements are slow and writhing (with a lower amplitude) and involve the distal limbs, the term athetosis is used. The presence of both chorea and athetosis in the same patient is referred to as choreoathetosis. When the movements are fast and flinging (with a higher amplitude) and involve the proximal limbs, the term ballism is used. Although the description of this patient’s movements was not clearly suggestive of ballism, hemichorea and hemiballismus often occur together.

The term dyskinesia can refer to any abnormal movements and is often used to describe hyperkinetic disorders that are induced by specific drugs, such as tardive dyskinesia induced by dopamine antagonists or dyskinesia induced by levodopa in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Often, dyskinesia manifests as chorea or choreoathetoid movements, but chorea and dyskinesia are not synonymous. This patient appears to have involuntary dyskinesia with choreoathetosis as the primary phenomenology. Before constructing a differential diagnosis for dyskinesia in this patient, I will consider two conditions that mimic dyskinesia: seizures and functional movement disorder.

Seizures

Various movement disorders may be mistaken for seizures, although these movement disorders are not associated with EEG abnormalities during the episode. Patients with some forms of epilepsy may present with abnormal movements without other features that are typically associated with seizures, such as aura, change in responsiveness, incontinence, or a postictal state.^3,4 Seizures were initially suspected in this patient, and he was referred to the epilepsy clinic. Recurrent focal seizures were probably suspected because of the transient nature of the episodes. Initial MRI had shown a small abnormality in the right middle frontal gyrus, but this finding was not seen on follow-up imaging, which makes it unlikely to be related to the overall presentation. Baseline EEG had shown only brief left temporal slowing, without epileptiform abnormalities. The EEG was an interictal study, so the findings do not rule out seizures. However, the slowing was ipsilateral to the abnormal movements, so it is unlikely to be related to the episodes. In addition, the patient’s involuntary movements were nonstereotyped and nonrhythmic, which makes his presentation unlikely to be due to a seizure disorder.

Functional Movement Disorder

Because this patient’s movements diminished with the use of distraction techniques, a diagnosis of functional movement disorder was considered. Most cases of functional movement disorder begin abruptly after a trigger, such as a mild physical injury or illness; a psychological stressor can be present but is not required for diagnosis. Symptoms are typically most severe around the time of onset and may wax and wane over time. Although distractibility is a finding associated with functional disorders, abnormal movements that occur with nonfunctional syndromes can sometimes be suppressed by action or incorporated into voluntary movements in a manner that may appear distractible. Several clinical features in this patient make a diagnosis of functional disorder unlikely. Functional movement disorder is more common in women than in men, and the average age at onset is 40 years.⁵ In addition, tremor is the most common clinical phenotype seen in patients with functional movement disorder; chorea or choreoathetosis, which was seen in this patient, is very unusual in patients with functional movement disorder. Overall, functional movement disorder is unlikely to explain this patient’s presentation.

Dyskinesia

Primary paroxysmal dyskinesia refers to a group of heterogeneous syndromes characterized by recurrent involuntary movements that occur episodically and abruptly, without loss of consciousness.⁶ These disorders usually begin in childhood or young adulthood. Both the age of this patient and the described phenomenology make a diagnosis of primary paroxysmal dyskinesia unlikely.

The differential diagnosis in this case is therefore focused on causes of secondary dyskinesia, of which there are many.⁷ MRI ruled out the presence of a mass lesion suggestive of cancer. The patient had no history of acute illness suggestive of a viral or other infectious encephalitis, and there was no history of trauma or exposure to drugs or other toxins. Although his daughter mentioned trouble with memory, there was no compelling history suggestive of a neurodegenerative disease.

A common metabolic cause of secondary dyskinesia is diabetic striatopathy, a syndrome involving the acute-to-subacute onset of chorea and ballism in the context of hyperglycemia.⁸ This syndrome can occur as the initial manifestation of type 2 diabetes mellitus or as a complication of poorly controlled diabetes. Diabetic striatopathy is more likely to develop in women than in men, and the average age at onset is 70 years. Most patients present with hemichorea and hemiballismus, rather than bilateral symptoms. CT shows hyperdensity, and T1-weighted MRI shows hyperintensity, in the contralateral basal ganglia. However, this patient had no history of diabetes and had a normal blood glycated hemoglobin level, features that rule out a diagnosis of diabetic striatopathy.

Choreiform movements can also be a manifestation of autoimmune conditions.⁹ This patient’s initial presentation with unilateral shoulder and face movements would have suggested the possibility of faciobrachial dystonic seizures associated with anti–leucine-rich, glioma-inactivated 1 (anti-LGI1) encephalitis.¹⁰ This condition is often associated with hyponatremia, which was present in this patient. However, as the case evolved, leg involvement and sensory changes developed that would be atypical for anti-LGI1 encephalitis.

One key clue in this case is that the patient did not have an isolated movement disorder. In addition to motor symptoms, he had a variety of sensory symptoms involving both the left arm and the left leg. His first hospital admission was precipitated by an episode of unresponsiveness. The clinical event that led to his second presentation to the emergency department was distinctly different: an acute onset of speech difficulty accompanied by left hemiparesis and right gaze deviation that was worrisome for an acute right middle cerebral artery (MCA) syndrome. The symptoms resolved without intervention, which indicates that he may have had an acute transient ischemic attack (TIA). The most relevant imaging finding was severe cerebrovascular disease, including severe stenosis of the distal right CCA and proximal right ICA. Could this patient’s movement disorder be explained by a vascular lesion?

Limb-Shaking TIAs

Limb-shaking TIAs were first described by C. Miller Fisher in 1962.¹¹ In most case reports, these episodes are associated with high-grade stenosis of the ICA, which was seen in this patient.^12,13 The mechanism is thought to be cerebral hypoperfusion, and changes in posture or head position that decrease cerebral blood flow can precipitate these episodes. In this patient, the first episode of unresponsiveness that led to hospital admission occurred when he was sitting. He then had an acute episode involving right gaze preference that was provoked by exercise and was very suggestive of a TIA in the right MCA territory. These findings are highly suggestive of a diagnosis of limb-shaking TIAs, and I would refer this patient for emergency carotid endarterectomy.

Clinical Impression and Initial Management

Dr. Scott B. Silverman: When I evaluated this patient, his transient right gaze preference and left hemiparesis were consistent with a right MCA syndrome due to a TIA from symptomatic severe stenosis of the right ICA. The mechanism of this event was either artery-to-artery embolism or hypoperfusion. His previous, recurrent episodes of transient choreoathetosis on the left side that had occurred mainly while he was sitting, standing, or exercising were consistent with limb-shaking TIAs from hypoperfusion or low flow.

The pathogenesis of a low-flow state related to severe carotid stenosis resulting in limb-shaking TIAs is described in a small case series.¹⁴ In six out of eight patients, the transient, stereotyped, involuntary movements were eliminated with carotid artery revascularization. Positional cerebral ischemia in patients without orthostatic hypotension has been described.¹⁵

Treatment with atorvastatin was continued, the dose of aspirin was increased to 325 mg per day, and an intravenous heparin infusion was started. The strategy of permissive hypertension was used, with high blood pressure allowed to a maximum systolic blood pressure of 180 mm Hg. The patient was admitted to the stroke service, and carotid artery duplex ultrasonography was performed.

Dr. Gupta: Doppler ultrasonography of the carotid arteries (Figure 2) revealed markedly elevated Doppler flow velocities within the proximal right ICA. There was a parvus et tardus waveform in the distal right ICA, a finding indicative of low flow related to the more proximal high-grade stenosis. The Doppler waveform contours had poststenotic turbulence.

Figure 2

Doppler Ultrasound Image.

Dr. Silverman: The vascular surgery service was consulted, and the patient underwent right carotid endarterectomy.

Clinical Diagnosis

Limb-shaking transient ischemic attacks.

Dr. Albert Y. Hung’s Diagnosis

Limb-shaking transient ischemic attacks due to severe carotid stenosis, with secondary paroxysmal dyskinesia.

Pathological Discussion

Dr. Caroline F. Hilburn: The endarterectomy specimen included the carotid bifurcation and was notable for firm arterial walls, a finding consistent with calcification. On gross examination (Figure 3A), a large plaque was centered at the carotid bifurcation and protruded into the lumen, resulting in a maximal luminal stenosis of 80%. The plaque had an irregular and focally friable surface. On microscopic examination (Figure 3B), the plaque was characterized by extensive calcification. Some regions of the plaque had a smooth, healed fibrous cap, whereas other regions had an irregular surface suggestive of ulceration, which indicated potential sites of plaque rupture. Multiple smaller calcified plaques were present, affecting both branches of the artery.

Figure 3

Endarterectomy Specimen.

Pathological Diagnosis

Complex atherosclerotic plaque with portions of attached media.

Additional Management

Dr. Silverman: After the procedure, the patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged home on the fifth hospital day. He was seen 1 month after discharge in the stroke prevention clinic. There had been no further episodes of involuntary movements or choreoathetosis and no stroke or TIA. The patient continues to take aspirin, atorvastatin, and antihypertensive medications.